Method of manufacturing cable beads or grommets



F. H BEYEA.

METHOD OF MANUFACTURING CABLE BEADS 0R GROMMETS. APPLICATION FILED SEPT.14.,. L921.

'1 ,4129, 1 24,, I Patented Sept. 12, 1922.

FRANK H. BEYEA,

METHOD OF MANUFACTURING OF AKRON, OHIU.

cases BEADS on csominn'rs.

Application filed September 14, 1921: Serial I I o. 500,651.

of this'article, over methods now in use.

In a prior application Serial No. 47 2,623 filed May 26, 1921, I haveproposed to form the grommet from a circular central or core wire and anouter or covering wire distinct and separate therefrom. In the presentapplication, however, I propose to use a single wirefor this purpose.

The method of my invention is illustrated by the drawings accompanyingthis application in which Fig. 1 is a viewshowing the single piece ofwire from which the cir'- cular cable is'made.

Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line. 2-2 of Fig. 1. I

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the bead cable or grommet in the processof manufacture.

Fig. 4- is a side elevation of the completed grommet.

Fig. 5 is a cross section on the line 5-.5 of Fig. 4.

The present application discloses a method of making a cable bead orgrommet, which method is similar in some respects to the 'methoddisclosed in the prior application referred to above, in that the wirewhich composes the bead is given a preliminary spiralling or crimpingbefore the wrapping operation. The advantages of preliminarily crimpingor spiralling the wire before wrapping it about itself to form the corewire, are that when the spiralling is done as a. preliminary operationand not during or as a part of the winding or wrapping operation, a moreaccurate and perfect spiral may be iven to the wire and a higher carbonor sti or wire may be used for this purpose. Furthermore, the spirallingis done in a separate machine from the winding or wrapping machine.which simplifies the latter machine and reduces the liability offailures or disablement of the wrapping machine. Other objects andadvantages will be apparent from the description of the invention.

In my prior application above referred to, I proposed to use a separatecore wire as a foundation about which the outer or covering wire iswrapped. According to this invention however I propose to use the samewire as the core wire and cover it with a spiralled extension of itself.

Thus, in Fig. 1 the wire-is shown preformed with the spiral or straightportion and prepared for the-winding or wrapping operation. The wire isindicated as a wholeby the numeral 1 and is formed with a straight orunspiralled portion 2 and a. spiralled-or crimped portion 3. Thestraight portion2 is of the proper size to "form a complete core wire sothat the ends of the strai ht portion will'come to-the point at whic thespiral begins, when the wire is bent around to form the core .orfoundation of the proper size for the finished grommet. The remainingportion of the wire is given acrimp or spiral of the proper pitch anddiameter so that when wound about the por-' tion 2, it will closelycover the same.

My present process differs from those which have preceded it, in thatthe Wire is given the spiral formation before it is assembled upon thecarrier or spool or in the 'wrapping or winding machine. By Fig. 1, inwhich portions of the wire are broken, out, I have intended to show alength of wire sufficient to make a single complete bead core orgrommet, it being understood that the length of wire which goes willcomprise a large number of units.

The wire for the beads, having been prepared in the manner shown with anumber of unit lengths, each composed of a straight portion 2 and aspiralled port on 3, iswound or assembled on a spool or carrier 4. Theportion of the wire 2 is bent into the form of a circle with the end ofthe wire against the first spiral. The spool 4 is then passed in anorbit about the portion 2 so that the port on 3 will wrap about thestraight portion of the Wire, the spool'and the ring of wire moving inthe relative direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3. The wrappingoperation is continued until the whole of the portion 2 of the wire iscovered, which should run the wire out to the next succeeding straightportion. Thev Wire is then cut'as at 5 in Fig. 4 so as to leginto themachine v first run out and ister approximately with the first end ofthe wire, although it may overlap slightly, if desired. T he wire isthen sealed or locked in place by any suitable means as shown at 6,which may represent a sleeve orclip or a soldered, brazed or weldedjoint. The wire cable is then stretched to bring it to the proper sizeand cause the spirals to lie together evenly and smoothly and is readyfor incorporation in the bead structure.

In former practises it has been the custom to make wire beads by the useof a quill or die as apart of the head which revolved about the corewire to give the spiral formation to the wire during the wrapping. Sucha practise has 'meant a setting of the machine in each' windingoperation so that the wire will run out straight for a portion or awhole of the core wire, and then resetting to give the wire the spiralformation. By preparing or preforming the wire as shown and. described Iam enabled to dispense with the setting and resetting operations and asa re-' sult the manufacturer of the beads may be done with less laborand greater efiiclency.

It will be noted that, as the wire is assembled upon the spool incrimped or spiralled form, it is necessary that the spool be-passedaround the wire in such fashlon that the preformed spiral is notaltered.

To do this the spool is maintained with its axis always perpendicular tothe plane of the core. This method cf winding" is original with me andis covered generically in filly prior applications, Serial No. 472,623

filed May 26, 1921, and Serial No. 499,305 filed September 8, 1921.

Changes and modifications may be made in the carrying out of the processof my inventions without departing from the spirit thereof orsacrificing any of its benefits. The invention is not limited to themanufacture of endless bead wires but may be extended to other uses andrelationships.

Claims: 1

1. A process of manufacturing circular cables or grommets, comprisingforming a unit length of wire with a stralght portion cf sufficientlength to form a core wire, and spiralled portion of sufiicient lengthto cover the core wire, assembling the wire so shaped upon a carrier,drawing out the straight portion to form. the core and then wrapping thespiralled portion about the said core until it is covered thereby.

2. A. process of manufacturing circular cables or grommets, comprisingforming a unit length of wire with a straight portion of sufiicientlength to form. a core wire, and spiralled portion of fficient length tocover thecore wire, assbling the wire so shaped. upon a carrier, drawingout the straight portion to form the core, wrapping the spiralledportion about the said coreuntil 't is covered thereby and unitingtheend of the wiretc the body of the cable.

'in a number of successive convolutions and then circling the straightportion to form the core and wrapping the spiralled portion about thesaid core to cover the same.

4. A process of manufacturing circular cables or grommets, comprisingthe steps of formin a wire with a straight portion and a spirilledportion, the straight portion being of a length suflicient to form thecore wire of the grommet and the spiralled portions being of a lengthsufficient to cover the core wire when Wrapped around the same in, anumber of successive convolutions, then circling the straight portion toform the core, wrapping the spiralled portion about the said core tocover the same, and then uniting the end of'thespiralled portion of thewire to the body of the cable.

5. A process of manufacturing cables or grommets comprising the steps offorming a wire with straight pm'tions and with spiralled portions inalternation, the straight portion being of a length su'liicient to formthe core wire of the grommet and the spiralled portion being of a-lengthsufficient to cover the core wire when wrapped about the same in a.plurality of successive convolutions, assembling the wireso shaped on a.carrier, drawing from the carrier the straight length of wireand'circling the same to form the core wire, then passing the carrierabout the corewire until the spiralled portion of the -wire completelycovers the core wire in a plurality of successive convolutions, thencutting the wire at the end of the spiralled portion.

6. A process of manufacturing cables or 51?; grommets comprising thesteps of forming a wire with straight portions and with spiralledportions in alternation; the straight portion belng of a lengthJlillClBIll? to the core wire of the grommet and the spirailed portionbeing of a length sutiicient to coverthe core wire when wrapped aboutthe same in a plurality of successive convolw tions,'assembling the wireso shaped on carrier, drawing from the carrier straight length of wireand circling the smile to form the core wire. then passing ra rier aboutthe sore wire until the spiral! portion of the wire com etely covers thecore wire in a plurality lutions, then cutting the r re at the end ofthe spiralled portion and se .iring the end of the wire to the body ofthe cable.

FRANK BEYlliA.

ccessive convc-

